Protesters light bonfires as Murang’a erupts in huge protests in the middle of the night
By Steve Ireri, August 15, 2026Tens of protesters took to the streets in Mathioya Constituency, Murang’a County, on the night of Friday, August 14, 2026, staging demonstrations outside the constituency offices and lighting bonfires that momentarily disrupted transport.
The protesters, who gathered in the Kiria-ini area, accused their Member of Parliament of failing to deliver on his mandate and raised concerns over bursary funds and road development.
The demonstrations began in the evening and continued into the night, with the protesters gathering in their hundreds as tensions rose outside the Mathioya Constituency offices.
Speaking during the protests, Kiria-ini boda-boda chairman Madocho accused the area MP of failing in his responsibilities and alleged that people from outside the area had been brought in ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“This place is called Kiria-ini, and we started protesting in the evening. I am Madocho and I am the boda boda chairman here,” he said.
Madocho claimed the MP had brought people who were not originally from the area in an attempt to have their voting details changed so that they could vote in the constituency.
“Our area MP has failed in his roles and he has brought people who are not from here to have their votes changed so those people will vote here and vote for him,” he said.
He warned the MP against relying on what he described as political gimmicks, saying residents were already alert to what was happening in the constituency.
“But we warn him that here it is worse than Ol Kalou and such gimmicks will not work,” Madocho said.
He further alleged that the people in question had been brought into the area on the day of the protests as the MP sought to secure his political position ahead of the next election.
“And those people have been brought here today and the MP is trying all he can so he cannot be ousted in 2027,” he added.
Madocho said residents would not support what they considered poor leadership and called on the MP to leave office if he could not deliver for his constituents.
“But we are sharp. If he is not able to work, let him go home,” he said.
Other shortcomings
Another protester, Wainaina, said residents were angry over several issues affecting the constituency, including the failure to remit bursary funds intended to support school-going children.
“We are so mad because something happened here. We are also angry because bursary money meant for school children was not remitted,” Wainaina said.
He said residents were also frustrated because they had expected another road to be constructed in the area, but the project had not materialised.
“And we are also disgruntled because we expected another road to be built for us here, but it was not,” he added.
The protesters subsequently gathered outside the Mathioya Constituency offices, where their demonstration continued into the night.
The large crowd also disrupted movement along the area as protesters lit bonfires on the roads, temporarily affecting transport.
Videos from the demonstrations showed flames burning along sections of the road as groups of protesters gathered nearby and voiced their grievances.